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Australia will win World T20: Clarke

Ben Horne

Michael Clarke predicts momentum from the Test team's heroics in South Africa will transcend formats and lead to Australia taking home their first World Twenty20 crown in Bangladesh.

A wounded and weary Clarke touched down in Sydney on Friday afternoon and says he will attempt to get his body right for the Sheffield Shield final on March 21 should NSW qualify, and then settle into some rest and relaxation with Australia's next Test assignment not until October.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris is booked in for surgery and a handful of other Test squad members have also returned home for a well-earned break, but the likes of David Warner, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin will form the nucleus of Australia's assault on the World T20 starting on the sub-continent later this month.

Despite the distinct differences in format and conditions, doubled with the fact Australia have never won the tournament, Clarke is backing his countrymen to continue the green and gold rush and go all the way.

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"I think they can. I think they'll be led extremely well by George. He's captained the Twenty20 team exceptionally well for a while now," said Clarke at his return media conference.

"I think the confidence the Test players will take out of this series and bring into the Twenty20 team will certainly help as well. So I'm backing the boys. I'm really confident they'll win the Twenty20 World Cup."

Australia might have knocked over the world No.1 South Africans in their own backyard, but Clarke says his side would be foolish to consider themselves the best team in Test cricket.

While he wanted his players to put their feet up and reflect on their achievements this summer, the captain emphasised the job was far from done.

Clarke said Australia had a "hell of a lot" to achieve at home and abroad before they could claim to be at the peak of their powers.

If Australia continue to fire against Pakistan and India later this year, they could be the ICC's No.1 side during next summer.

But the obvious exclamation point for this Australian team to put on their ascension to the Test cricket summit would be to retain the Ashes in the UK next year.

Clarke said breaking a two-year duck away from home was the starting point for something bigger.

"I think South Africa have well and truly earned that mantle and that doesn't come lightly," he said.

"You've got to have success over a long period of time and they've (the Proteas) done that.

"We're playing some really good cricket and I think we're improving as a team but there's a long way to go before we will consider ourselves the No.1 team in the world."